Are you a cheese whiz?

Do you know a lot about cheese? Good for you, I guess. The rest of us can test our knowledge about the More Solid Dairy here. You'll all be rewarded with a cube of cheddar.
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Question 1 of 20

We know that rennet is used to make cheese, but what is the stuff?

a bacteria

an enzyme

Rennet is an enzyme that we actually get from the lining of mammals' stomachs. Vegetarian? You're (kind of) in luck: You can also find it in mold.

an acid

Question 2 of 20

What is one popular cheese origin story?

A mouse nibbling some fermented milk gave a baker's wife the idea for cheese.

An Arabian merchant, using a sheep's stomach for a pouch, found that his supply of milk turned into delicious curds at the end of a hot day.

Nobody can say for sure, but some say that a merchant's chance discovery allowed you and I to eat frozen pizza for dinner.

Cheese was discovered when a cow -- dead from staying out in the sun too long -- was dissected, and cheese was discovered in its stomach.

Question 3 of 20

Who made sure not to leave home without cheese?

Wallace and Gromit

the Pilgrims

Even aboard the Mayflower, nobody was going to risk a cheese-free New World.

every astronaut, ever

Question 4 of 20

What nation is NOT in the top 5 in terms of cheese consumption?

Italy

France

United States

Americans may love cheese, but they lag far behind countries like France and Greece when it comes to chowing down on the stuff.

Question 5 of 20

How many cheeses in the UK have protected name status -- meaning that you can call the product by the name only if it's made in the certain geographical area?

1

16

There are 16 cheeses -- including Stilton and Wensleydale -- that must be made in their designated place to be graced with their proper name.

none

Question 6 of 20

Who coined the term "cheese-eating surrender monkeys"?

Christopher Hitchens

Conan O'Brien

Groundskeeper Willie

No one can accuse "The Simpsons" of diplomacy in Franco-American relations.

Question 7 of 20

What was the appeal of processed cheese, patented in 1916?

its color

the preservatives that kept the cheese from spoiling

Perhaps the name Kraft rings a bell -- that's the guy who first patented processed cheese, which allowed you to "enjoy" cheese long after nature intended.

you could squeeze it out of a tube

Question 8 of 20

While grilled cheese sandwiches have been popular for ages, when did the term "grilled cheese" actually come into the lexicon?

the 1960s

There were toasted cheese sandwiches and melted cheese sandwiches, but "grilled cheese" didn't become a thing until the 1960s.

during the Renaissance

in World War I

Question 9 of 20

What makes a stinky cheese stink?

bacteria

washing the cheese

both

Turns out that to get pungent cheese, you need to rinse the aging rind to stimulate smelly bacterial growth.

Question 10 of 20

So the cheese stinks -- what does that mean for the cheese itself?

it has a stronger taste

it can only be eaten within a month of "ripening"

it's less acidic

That's right, stinky cheeses are less acidic than the less pungent treats.

Question 11 of 20

What is one actual stinky cheese name?

The Stinking Bishop

Wallace and Gromit might've made it a familiar name, but don't get too close -- Stinking Bishop is as smelly as advertised.

Chiselwick Death Eater

Rank Officer

Question 12 of 20

Little Miss Muffet isn't the only one who loves eating curds. But why do the tasty bits squeak when you eat them?

You've gravely injured them.

The proteins in the cheese are still quite flexible at curd stage.

No, you're not hurting the curds. It's just the sound of the binding proteins flexing.

It's the sound of the bacteria popping.

Question 13 of 20

What FDA policy statement caused an uproar in cheese-making circles?

that cheese shouldn't be aged on wooden shelves

In 2014, the FDA said that wood shelves couldn't be adequately cleaned and shouldn't be used to age cheese. They quickly backed off when cheese makers protested, saying it was not official policy.

that cheese shouldn't be aged for more than two weeks

that processed cheese sometimes tastes really good on grilled cheese sandwiches, which is weird because it's mostly disgusting

Question 14 of 20

What do you call a person who sells cheese?

a cheeser

a cheese monger

Visit your local cheese monger whenever you need a fix.

a dairyman, even if it's a woman

Question 15 of 20

It might not surprise you that Wisconsin produces the most cheese in the U.S., but what variety makes up the bulk of its production?

cheddar

mozzarella

That's right, Italy has nothing on the Midwest state. In 2013, more than 33 percent of the cheese made in Wisconsin was mozzarella.

American

Question 16 of 20

We can't leave the subject of Wisconsin cheese without mentioning cheeseheads. When did the Packers' fans adopt the term?

at a Milwaukee Brewers game

after Chicago fans started using it as an insult

both

While the NFL team is known for its cheesehead fans, the term (and the Styrofoam hat) was taken up with pride after Chicago sportswriters taunted the Brewers' fans with the term.

Question 17 of 20

Liz Lemon on "30 Rock" loves her cheese. What song did she sing to herself while eating the delicious dairy?

"Since U Been Cheese"

"Run the World (Cheese)"

"Night Cheese"

In a reworking of Bob Seger's "Night Moves," Liz sings "Night Cheese" -- and reportedly cost the network a small fortune for the rights to do so.

Question 18 of 20

What cheese-heavy dish do Canadians eat 55 percent more of than Americans?

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese -- known as "Kraft dinner" in Canada -- is wildly popular in the north, and Canadians eat roughly three boxes a year per person.

frozen pizza

mozzarella sticks

Question 19 of 20

What is the subject of the book "Who Moved My Cheese?"

where the cheese went

adjusting to change

The popular psychology book uses a tale about mice losing their cheese to help illustrate larger points about life changes. Naturally.

regulating the superego with regular doses of dairy

Question 20 of 20

What cheese myth was so persistent that the cheese industry funded a study to examine it?

that cheese caused nightmares

Some claimed that eating cheese before sleep gave you nightmares, but -- unsurprisingly -- the British Cheese Board said that it helped people sleep better.

that cheese caused acne

that cheese caused you to lose interest in socializing with friends and family